Navigating the 1:1 ShiftThe ‘State of the Union’ on 1:1 Policy

Digital Learning Now!An initiative of Excel In Ed

John Bailey Nathan Martin

Digital Learning Now!

Digital Learning Now! is a national campaign under the Foundation for Excellence in Education with the goal of advancing state policies that will create a high-quality digital learning environment to better equip all students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in this 21st-century economy.

State-by-state report card

Whitepapers

Research reports

Videos and examples

Unprecedented State Activity

Over 700 bills considered in

2012

152 enacted (22%)

Strong Policy Support for 1:1

• IL SB 3115 (2011) defines “textbook” to include electronic textbooks and creates the textbook block grant program. Requires annual review process from State Board of Education.

• IN HB 1429 (2011) expands the definition of ''textbook" to include certain hardware, software, and digital content.

• OH HB 153 (2011) defines electronic textbook. Funds paid to districts for textbooks may be used to purchase computer hardware and related equipment.

• IA SF 2178 (2010) expands the definition of "textbooks" to include books, electronic materials and laptop computers or other portable personal computing devices.

• TX HB 2488 (2009) permits the use of ‘open-source electronic textbooks’ that can be substituted for traditional paper textbooks.

• Large scale initiatives in SD, PA, NH, TX, GA, LA, CA, VA, FL, KS, ME, MI, MA. Even more in large urban school districts such as LA, Miami, Orange County.

State of 1:1 Initiatives & Digital Learning

Expanding in 2013– CA SB 185: Requires the “unbundling” of instructional elements.– NC HB 44: States intent of General Assembly to transition from

funding textbooks to fund digital materials by 2017.– AR HB 1785: eliminates seat time and by 2014-2015, every

student required to take one digital course.

Proof Points Around 1:1 & Blended Learning– Teachers College study: 2,200 students, largely in underserved

populations, using the Teach To One (TtO) math program making 1.2 years of growth in math or 20% more than the national average.

– Rand Study: 18,000 students, 147 schools and seven states using BL curriculum. 20 to 30 point improvement on the SAT math section.

Key Policy Drivers

• Common Core: Using digital resources and services can help accelerate and ease transition to the Common Core.

• Supports Next Generation Models of Learning: Needed as a prerequisite for blended learning and online learning.

• Online Assessment Needs: PARCC/SBAC requirements but also for state tests shifting to online administration.

Blended Learning Models

Challenges of 1:1

• Limited Resources: Perceived challenges with lack of available funds. Mooresville and LA are providing models for funding.

• Misinformation: Need to present clear expectations about promise, challenge & need for 1:1. Don’t overpromise – this is one piece of the digital learning ecosystem.

• Poor Implementation & Planning: Requires strong project management and close relationship with vendors. Have to think about insurance, security, equipment failures, and support.

• Explosion of Devices: Use to just be laptops. Now there tablets, smartphones, education specific devices (e.g. Amplify, OLPC). Will continue to expand due to “Internet of Things”

Exploding Array of Device Forms

Funding the Shift

Message: It’s All About the Student

Drives Personalized, 24/7 Learning– Supports anytime, anywhere learning – Supports differentiation, in and out of the classroom– Provides access to course choice, content, services, and

assessment.

Unlocks High Quality Content– For the price of few print textbooks, students can have devices

accessing thousands of books, services & OER

Centers Learning Around Student– Improved writing, attendance, student engagement and math

scores (see Maine, Michigan)– Empowers the student with learning tools.

Lessons of Mooresville, NC

• Put Learning First, Use Technology to Implement Solutions

– Devices play one role in a broader culture of education reform.

• More Than Devices, Restructure School & Community

– Device acquisition must be part of a much broader conversation around personalizing educational opportunities that allow for deeper learning.

• Mooresville Miracle is Replicable– Think outside the box (literally).– Change the culture of instruction– Enlist the community

“I don’t know too many districts in the U.S. who could not copy our model and make it happen for kids,” Dr. Mark Edwards

Out of the Box Ideas

• Sales Tax Holidays: Intended to encourage purchases; can help with BYOD.

• Purchasing Consortia: Maine and other states are negotiating better value through demand aggregation.

• Tennessee Wifi: Area businesses offering student wifi access.

Westwood Middle School, Manchester TN

Connectivity Challenges

• Learning Doesn’t End At the Door to School

• Needed to Fuel Next Generation Learning Opportunities

• Promise of Digital Learning Only Achievable with Access

E-Rate 2.0 & Bridging the Gap• In June, President Obama announced “ConnectED” which calls on

the FCC to connect 99% of schools to 100 mbps, with a target of 1 Gbps within 5 years.

• FCC voted unanimously in July to reform the E-rate and issued NPRM.

• NPRM asks 600 questions about 139 issues. Spells out three goals for modernization:1. Increased Broadband Capacity;

2. Cost-Effective Purchasing

3. Streamlined Program Administration

FCC Vote

Comments Due

Reply Comments

Final Rule

Sept 16July 12 Oct 16 March 2014?Nov 8

Priority 1 Services Will Surpass Entire Cap

Source: Funds for Learning

Coalition Comments

Submitted by CCSSO, DLN, CFC, iNACOL, Clay Christensen Institute, KA, and NAPCS• Expedited Action is Needed.  The program has not been

reformed or modernized in any major way since the 1990s. 

• Schools Need to Control Their Own Technology Future.  The foundation of digital learning is flexibility and individualization, not one-size-fits-all answers.

• E-Rate is Part of Broader Education Technology Efforts.  The FCC’s reforms should reflect parallel efforts to empower curriculum reform, teacher training, digital textbook adoption, and new modes of online and blended learning.

Coalition Comments

• The Application Process Should be Streamlined to Better Reflect Education Procurement.  Reform should be focused on simplifying the process and encouraging states and consortia to be more active.   

• Allow for Future Innovation.  Emerging broadband-dependent models of education, such as blended and online learning, are too often forced to operate without the benefit of E-Rate support. 

• Fiscal Reasonability is Fundamental to Successful Reform.  Reform should ensure schools have the level of connectivity mandated by the Communications Act in a manner that encourages programmatic fiscal discipline; limits waste, fraud, and abuse; and is respectful of the impact on the monthly phone bills of all Americans.

Resources

• DLN E-rate Primer: http://goo.gl/VbtRTN

• FCC NPRM: http://goo.gl/cZExVK

• SETDA Broadband Report: http://goo.gl/NpVmn

• Annenberg Connected Learning in Digital Age: http://goo.gl/TAFqXH

• Funds for Learning: http://goo.gl/ptRnhw

More on the Web

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John@excelined.org

Nathan@excelined.org